Sign



July 27, 1943 q SYKQRA 2,325,435

SIGN

Filed June 11., 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l You ARE some OVER 0 BELOW ADVEPTISEMEN T :EIT 5. YOU ARE GOlIG OVER 20 gwvc/wbow Games E. EYKU H the speed of the moving vehi elef possible to. indicate the; exaot speed t plest form, my indicatorwill intlica vehicle is travellingxover;thirty; OVGITEiQlL L QZ to indicate .the l exact speed; although 1th;

Patented July 27, 1943 SIGN" U vrs fi-fi te eese l e Mine? 7 s piicsa n's ei1, mugs ermine. 339.963

' vision of the'exact is tnossibletvithont My' invention relates to an improvement-yinsigns and more particularly in display sig-nsca" v pable oiinclicating thespeecl ol a vehicle' traveln l ne a sh e hi e'varis lm t e been used to'cjhec k thespeecl of travel-ling vehiclesg'no means has previously been constructed; insofar as I am avva1e,,t o'designate to'the c;lriver from an external source the speeds-t which the vehicle is travelling. Because pith {large-num berlof highway accidents, allthdlii'hls constantly attempting to curb; the speed of vehicles, particularly at dangerous points alongthe road;

t has been fountlth'at the occupantspf a- V ehi'cle travelling along a ihighwaytiill note a display sign along the read more quickly than they would .note the speedometer o f the vehicle. it is necessary for the tlrlvcrof a'vehiele towatch-the roaol and Watch for warning-signs along the roe. but because of theirequency of these signs -ncl the similarity between the same, caution and arning signs are oiten-notheedetl I t is the purpose of the present invention to provide a display agija'cent adange ous part of the road which vv'ill' be:illuminatedhymovement of the vehicle alongthe-road andwhichwill designate upon the sign thespeed-at:which the vehicle is ravelling-"along the roacl'. lt is afelt changing the invention; i

It is a feature of my inventionito provide .a

pair of detectors in a-highway a predetermined distance apart, "and to utilizethel time interval betWeen -ac-tuation's of .thesedetectors by ;a vie.-

hicle tocause' an intimation of ithespeed. atlvhich the vehicle is travelling V l -I;t--is a further feature of myflnvention to p.110- vide 'a timing motor whichis set-in motio by I the passage of I a vehicle-over one detector and that suclra warning sign willbetter than' any;

other means visibly warn theoriverk-that he ;is

travelling at a speed which is encessive imder f the dangerous'ccnditicnsand therefore-will cause ,the driver to clrive'more safely at-this dangerous ,nointiinthe o d Various Jaws havejoeen enactedto curb the lsne edof vehicles at clangerouspo'int's in the road; but these laws are 'tlifficult toenforce. I bef lieve that my Warning signwill cr ate a closer cooperationbetween motorists and law enforcing:

officers in their atten ,tQprfi ent cciiient sb ltlis a purposewof the present inve vide merely a series pf .Circnitsirl j the Vehicle is travelling. at alspeecl a certain amount. :I-n other words,

over fifty miles, an houi for; example rather; than pro;

'- l i V :;Figure .1 .isgaldiasremma; at p of lthefdangerous'iconditiqm; 1

which; consecutively closes a series .oLcQntacts in--s'epaiate'-cirouits; The passage of the ,ye: hicle o'ver the secondxdetectorcauses a circuit to be closecl through the timing .devicesat the particular "instant at which i the. vehicle ,,ci,o sses the second detector. lThis,;ci1:cuit causes ,illumi nation of a particular; indicator, speed, the illu; inination of which is pniilongetl .bylavsuitablejtinie iiigmechanism." The. timingjdevice ,setin moye ment by the passage =oizthe szehicle, overthe first detector causes switches .lto Ill-3:9. ...QQ QU3W Y closed, ranging from \an extremely high, speegl to a relativelyiovv speed. Thus-if the yehiclegasses overth seconddetector to :closei lzeim fii ill lq l h the timing device'iat .an extremely short time after the "firstidetecthr has been .ehfitllfitfifit l fi timing device will. not. haveytiavelleda great ;g1i stance and v.tl'ierefore lwilll intlicate, a *hgh speeg. I f,'however, the vehicle is travelling at -a l jwer rate: of speed, the timer motor lygill hav e p r 7 gressedma .greater distance, and there; ore a lqvger 'speedlwill be indicated ,whe he ener izin c rcuitis clo'sedhy thenassage O. thewehim over the seconddetector. l Y I These land other. objects amhnpvel ieatures of my inventions-will; bewmqre e rly lan xjfl uy' set forthhinsthez follotviflgPfi V l A 1 o iIn thexlrawingsitfmlmln .Part of my ope ficationt .i i a I t .W pie h hway illustrating a .sign agl acen a (law curve'thereim .7 p .1 I

' LFl'glllE'ZilS aidiag fflmmafim e YijQW- q fahigh 'way an dgintersection which is in the pnesent case a railroad:intersectlQn. v

A V Figure 3 .is aLdiagrammatic elevation view of a ihillg illustrating theluse of a sigryto 5w 1 FigureA is za diagrammatic view of a sign vvhich may beiused'zin conjunctionwitlet-he' u v indicated ini-Eigllr il.

Figure 5 :is a dia rammtip view 19 3: i n whmnimayzbe;used;a iaeen itherleilmeflsensin illustrated in Eisurel Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the sign used in conjunction with the hill illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

a Figure"? is a wiring diagram illustrating the constructionof my indicating device.

the purpose which will be later described so that The highway is provided with detectors B mounted therein for mally engage in one of the notches 33 and when:

withdrawn from one notch will permit rotation of the disc until the dog 31 drops into the next.

Q to rotate therewith. This disc it] is provided with the speed or the vehicle C may be indicated upon the display sign A.

In Figure 2 of th drawings, the sign Dillus tratedin Figure 5 is shown mounted along the highway I I, having railroad tracks I2 crossing the same. Detectors B are mounted in the high way to actuate the sign D.

A sign E may be, mounted adjacent the top of I a hill [3 to indicate to the occupants of the car C on the hill that a. dangerouscondition in the road exists. The sign E may be illuminated only .in the event of a vehicle approaching in the opposite direction if it is desired, and this result may be accomplished by. merely adding a timing device actuated by a car on the opposite side of the hill from the sign, which closes the supply circuit to the sign for. a predetermined length of time after crossing a detector F on the zopposite side of the hill i3 from the car C. The usual detectors B are provided'to be operated by the car C to illuminate the-sign E in cas the circuit thereto has been closed by. actuation of the detecwr F. Similarlyitis possible to install a suitab-le'.-warning sign at any dangerous point of a highway such as at the city limits or at any dangerous'intersection.

The speed indicating device maybe best understood from an observation of Figure '7 of the drawings. This figure discloses a pair of supply wire terminals l4 and i5. Terminal I iextends through conductors l6 and H, through the fuse '19 connected to conductor 23 which extends to a timer motor 2|. Th line wire l5 extends through conductors 22 and 23 to the other contact of the motor 2! closing a circuit to the motor 2|. Conductors 24 and 25 are tapped from conductors 23 and 23to energize the motor 26. Similar conductors 2i and 29 are tapped from" the supply wires and 23 and extend through themotor- 33; It will'be seen that the motorsZl, 26,,and

3i areconstantly connected with the supply terminals l4 and I5 and therefore 'are"constantly' energized. Obviously, the current supply through 'net coil 43.

j a peripheral notch 4| therein engageable with a.

latch or dog 32 pivotally mounted adjacent the: disc. The latch or dog 42 will normally engage. in the notch 4i and may be pivoted out of con-- tact with the notch by means of a suitable mag-- When the magnet coil 13 is deener-- gized, the latch or dog 42 will again engage in the notch Al to stop rotation of the motor 9A contact arm 43 is provided with a pair of spacedcontactsdii and 46 and is rotatable with: the motor 33. This contact arm 44 rotates over: a stationary ring 4'; having mounted thereupon a series of contact segments 49, 53, 5!, 52, 53, and; 54. The contact 45 on the arm 44 successivelyengages thes fixed arcuated contact segments. while the contact 46 constantly engages the con-- tact ring 55. Thus the arm' M successively closes: contacts from the ring to the various contact; segments 49 through 54 inclusive.

The first detector B over which the vehicle passes is indicated at 56 in Figure '7 of the draw-- ings. This detector is of the magnetic type embodying a magnetic coil connected by conductors: 51 and 59 to the magnet 80. This magnet 38, forms a part of a micro relay including an arma ture Bl' designed to contact the contact 62.. The armature 6| is normally heldraised after; the magnet 60 has been energized by a fixed mag-- net 63, although it will b understood that this; magnet 63 is notof sufiicient strength in itself. to raise the armature Bl.

A transformer 54'is connected between the fuse: Win the supply wire I! from the supply ter-- minal l4 and th conductor 22 connected to the.

the line wiresld and I5 may at any time be cut 1 off by a suitable switch not illustrated in the drawings.- The-motors 2|, 23, and 30 are of a type which may be constantly energized without injurythereto or without undue heating of the motor actuating coils; A "disc 3| having a series of peripheral notches 32 is mounted for rotation with the motorZl. 'A pivot latch or dog 33 normally tends to engage in one of the notches 32.

A magnet coil 34 is provided adjacent the latch or dog 33 to withdraw the latch from the disc 31 to permit the disc 3| to rotate until the latch 33 drops into the next following notch 32 during therotation of thedisc 3| by the motor 2|.

A disc 35 provided with a series of peripheral notches 36 is mounted forrotation bythe motor 26. A pivoted dog or latch 31 is designed to norsupply terminal i5. A secondary coil 65 supplies. a low voltage current, for example, a ten volt cur-- rent, to the rectifier 63, the circuit extending from the coil 65 through the conductor 3! to the rectifier 66, returning through conductor 63 to the, other end of the coil 65. The rectifier fifi'ploduces. a low voltage direct current. A condenser H3 is, connected between the out-put terminals ii and T2 of the rectifier 66;

A direct current circuit extends from the output terminal H of the rectifier 65 through the conductor 13 to the contact 62 engageable with the armature 6i. When thearmature 5! is in raised position, a circuit is closed from the output terminal H of the rectifier 63 through the conductor 13, the contact 62, the armature E i ,the conductor 14, therelay magnet coil 75, conductor 16, and, conductor 11 to the out-put terminal 12 of the rectifier 6B. Thus When the armature tact arm 4'4.

:55 and 95120, thewiresgia unfit-Stand the coil 34 ductor u to the relay magnet milzflimd icheis connected by conductors iflizxand fl to dzhejsupiily line 89 connectedito the mtherflterminal 50f the 6011181; the'actuatimrmf themelay magnet 75 causes the relay zmagnetifi to-heener i ed,

time 53 is :raised,.:a,acircuitds closed ifrom'the current supply coil-7811M the coil'flgpivotin-g the latch dog 42 out-oLengagementowi-th the dema and permitting thelmotoriflscto :motate the con- The;=:zoil:3 9 is connected by lwires is connected .by the wims'z-gflllwendlflto these ysamesuphly wires 3.3and fl4. Accordingly], the

actuation of the magnet. '58 licenses each lot coils '35, 359, :ami 4,3 to -bewlenersized, writh- -drawing the latches or dogs :31,- a1,,and;42, re-

spectively, out of enga ement with their ;corresponding discst l, flfi andrmrsp :that themotors and $9, e ip fi elrumar otateolth l various timing discs. A pair ef eontacts l flflan d 7 {Bl are secured to" the: latohe nr sdflg 33 so" that these contacts are closed when the :dog .33 isjP voted out of the :notchxSZ MdwEQma'iHIC OSBQ as long as the motor- ;21 cnaeretes -to :rotatethe disc 3-1. As soon as thevlatch' 88 dnopsin them ext sum needing notch 32 ,th eontactsi M, 4132 areibrohen. The closing-0f contacts 1011,4411 closes a circuit from the .current-.supply mail 8J t hrough rthe conductor flzand "the eonductor' L02 through-the .contacts we, the .conducton mathmug pair of magnet coils 1 04. which are connected in parallel Joy thewire 11.85 to the currentsupply wire '89 attached tothe otheraendof. the-coilufill. FIhus' the closing of contacts Aw -HM energizes the mag-- nets or solenoids s! which closela switchr neans 2 MB. The closing of-thezswitch -Lilficlosesla-circuit from the terminal: 44 through- ,concluctors it, the fuse Ifl'Land-theoonductor: llflt through the switch H and conductonl IQJeading through the terminal Hil to acne tterrninal e-f --;,each of a. series of lights 1 t2. The othex terminal each of the lights is toormected byeonducto ll-3 to the-supply terminal l5. 'l'huea series-oflights ll 2! t are illuminated hy-tthesclosing of -2the coritacts [I E8,

1531 resulting in th closingiof; the magnetically operated switch 465 wliich proyitie from the supply terminals to the ligh t ,line

' lights l l 2 :illumlnate theuadvertisingmaterial-on the highway sign A so that .anatitertis ir g t iis- I -play describing a dangerous 'cenditien initheroad is inaugurated,

A pair of contacts Hat arieflconnectedeto the latch 31 so ,that t.the lpivotinghfflthe latch 31 by the coil 39 .outrofuenga ementwith the notch 35 will closexhe contacts'l lland l tiand will hold these contacts closed until the lamh :31 engages the inexttsucceed-ing notchlst. ;'.lhe closing of the contacts 1J4, llii closesa circuit .I-from the current supply wire M eonnectedtoone end of the coil Bi through .a nonductorfljlfi the contacts, H4 and I I'B thrml lra conductor} il to one terminal of the stilendidJIS, flIhe; solenoid [H9 is connected by conductor 1 .jto lthe'fother coil 81. Thustthe clos'ing ioflthehontacits iltill, .1115

current supply lmeBBQat the "otheriend'te'fgthe iii,

e r z s-ad o i, 9-.-:W i19h ec-iuaies s hook-(shaped core or annaturelgq which forcibly .pulls the armature -5;.| ot the micro relay 59 out of engagement withtthe permaaaent magnet 53 to break the circuit through the armature 6: to ythe relay J 5. The se ganation ot armature =7 9 :rmma 9Q e an bea t c i 9 the relay coil 85,, in turnbmaks the circuit .to the latch actuating mils, 34,-39; and,43 respec- ,tivelys @Aethe circuit toeeachof-thfise last mentioned zooils has-been olosejcl a sufiicient time to permit the motorefli 28,-:andl- -toetart the rotationof their corresponding timer however, the brealc ingef the circuit to -these coils does not effect the operatiomoi the device. ey breaking the circuitito the latch/actuating eoils 34, 3.8, and 43,; the corresponding are :permitted to step {the retarded discs sir/hen neXt the latchesengage :a in theperiphery thereof.

Fromthe foregoing description, it will be clearlyrvapparrent thatthe actuation of a vehicle .over the first z-deteotorl B designated las 5fi, the three timer motors 21F625 angle swill start rotating the associated timer; giscs.V,3.-l,- ,land All, which ,will causeilluminatitihor the ladvertisi-ng lights M2 on the.:-displaylsign.Anarrd the starting of the motor 25 nu'll-mauseeolenoid M9 to break the wcontact caused by the. micro relay 5%. The

contact arm 4;! iwilltherehystart its rotation,

successively engaging cnntact segments :54, 5 52,. 5-3, 53,- and $9,, ,During this rotation, however, prior to the actuation- :of the :second deie at or Bvindioatedrin the-d-rawinggby gthe numeral the circut -to the contact arm is broken. The closing :of @thelconta cts" H4, .445 also actuates the relay magnetl 22,. the-circuit; extending from I the current supplyswine tfliyconnected to one end of the coil 8 1, through the. eme; H6, through the contact L 4,115, thetconduotor Jill, conconductorfil; to-ethe rOthereurrent supply wire 3.9 connected to the other end -.-of the coil 8i.

ducto-r 5.23, magnet rela e coil J22, conductor IZ Z,

- The closihgmfthenincuit to thefrelaycoil 122 acts to closeLa circuit from the supply terminal .14 through ruse l at and conductor +39 l to the armature ill-Efnndflthroughthisflarmature and its cooperating-contact J25 tothe conductor .121 extending through the terminal 129 to one oon- ,tactrof/eachlot a ,series of lights 130. The other contact or each or these flights. J30 ,is lco'nnected by the ucommon wire 11 3; to thelother current supply t rminal. 15. Thus th closing-er the contacts Ji l, l 15 causes illu-minatien of the lights can which illumihzitethc portion'ofithe Sign "statmg =-.that,.the vehicle is travelling over a predefterlminediamount airspeed. wlnotherwords, the

[words #32011 AreI'ravelling Over ire-illuminated the iciltisjingwnf lthesuontacts. LIA, 115, as it is .not necessary ior these lightstto be "illuminated as "long a periorllofl time. asethe advertisement and warning sigmal.- When the-lseconddetector & B designatedat [24: in thetdrawings is actuated currentlffiows through the Wines J31 and G5 subsequent to the actnationeof athe firstdetector .toithe amicro reIay coiLJ-IBB. JIYhe current flfiewing. through the ,;coil J 33 draws the micro relay ,armature J34 upwardly into, contact with its corresponding contact I35. This action closes a circuit f-romithe output terminal :11 vof ithe ,rectifierufifi th-nougheonductors 13 through 'con V tductor 1.36, contact 1 359.net armature J34, c0nductor I31, relay magnet eoil lia oonductor I 48,

1 eon ductor .11, tokthel-etherg ont putoterminal 12 of lithe-rectifier: 66,. Thuszthe tactuationmr the :to the .relay m gnct coil I39,- which circuit is maintained by thepermanent magnet |4I.- The current flowing through the relay magnet 'coil' I39 draws the armature I42 against its corresponding contact I43.

This forms a contact-from the currentsupply wire 82 attached to one endof- 'the supply coil BI through 'the conductor 83 and-conductor I44 through the armature I42 and its corresponding contact I43, through the conductor I45 to the common contact'ring' S-S on the insulationdisc 41; A' circuit is thus formed through the foregoing wires from one side of'the coil 8! through one or another of the contact segments 49 89 connected to the other side of the coil 8|.

The segment 50 isconnected bythe wire I5I to the magnet relay coil I52, the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor-I53 to the wire I50, The segment 5| is connected by the conductor I48 to the relay magnet coil I54, the

other terminaloi which is connected to the wire H50. The segment 52 is'connected by the conductor I55 to the magnet relay coil I56, the other terminal of which is connected by conductor I56 and the wire I59 to the current supply line wire 89. The segment 53 is connected by the conductor I60 to the relay magnet coil I61, the other terminal of which is'connected by the conductor I62 to the common conductor I59. The remaining segment 54- is connected by the conductor I53 to the relay magnet coil I54, the other terminal of which is connected by the wire I59 to'the current supply line wire 89.

' Thus it will become obvious that as a vehicle passes the detector I2'I, the relay I33 closes a circuit to the relay I39 which in turn closes a circuit through the contact arm 44 of the timer which causes a circuit to extend through one of the segments 49 to 54, thereby closing a circuit to one of the relays I41, I52, I54, I56, I6I, or I64.

Closing a circuit through the relay coil I41 acts to raise the armature, I65 thereof, which armature is connected to the conductor I46 connectedto segment49; The raising of the armature acts to electrically connect a pair of contacts I 66 and-I61. This closes'the circuit from the current supply; wire 82 through conductors 1 H6, contactsII4, II5';-conduct0r II1, conductor I69, contacts I66, I51, conductor I10, resistance "l1i, solenoid coili I12, conductor I13, conductor 81 to the other current supply line wire 89. This "actuates' the solenoid I12 which acts to forcibly pull the armature I34 away'irom the permanent magnet -I4I, breaking the contact to the relay 'magnet I39: This breaks the circuit to the commonfconductor ring 55 so that no more than one 'of the'relay magnets I41, I52, I5 56, IISI, and

I64 can be operated for 'a' single actuation of the detector IZI. j'Ihe raising, of the armature i65 also establishesla holding: circuit to the relay m'agnetyI'I'I, whichcircuit extends from the line wire 82"through conductor II6,'terminals II4,

' H5, conductor II1, conductor I69, armature I65 and conductor I14, relay coill41, conductor I49,

conductor I50, to'the line-wire 89. Thus as long as the contacts"'I'I4, I I5 are closed, the armature I65 remains in raised position.

The actuation 'of themagnet coil I 41 also raises a second armature I15 to contact its cooperating contact I16,-'thereby closing a' circuit, from line 7 conductor I8I to indicator lamp 'I92.. The other terminal'ofthe lamp I82 is connected to the common ground wire II3.' Thus the raising of relay armature I15 cause illumination of the indicatorlamp I82. 3 j

The actuation of relay coil I52 raises armature I83, thus causing engagement between armature I83 and the two contacts I84 and I85. This action establishes aholdingcircuit from supply wire 82 through II6, contact-s H4, ductors II1 and I86, contact I85, armature I83, conductor I81, coil- I52,'throu'gh I53 and I59 to the line wire 89." A'circuitv is also closed from line wire 82 throughI I6, contacts H4, H5, conductors I I1 and I86, contacts I84: and I85, through armature I83, conductor I89 and I10, through resistance I1I, solenoid coil I12, conductors I13 and 81 to the linewire 89.

The actuation of the magnet coil I52 also raises armature I90, creating 'a circuit from line wire I09 connected through fuse I01 to terminal I4, conductors I11 and 200, through armature I90 and its cooperating contact I9I, through conductor I92, terminal I93 and conductor E94 to indicate a light I95, the other terminal of which is connectedthrough the-common ground wire II3 to terminal I5. Thus when magnet I52 is actuated, a circuit is closed to the indicator light I95 which remains illuminated as long as the contacts H4, H5 are closed.- I r r r 1 When the relay coil I54 is energized, the armature I96 is raised, closing a holding circuit from line'wire 82 through II6, contacts H4, H5, conductors II1 and I91,- contact I99, armature I99, conductor 201, magnet coil I54, to conductor I50, leadingto line wire 89.' A second circuit is closed from line wire 82 through I I6, contacts H4, H5, conductors II1, I91, contacts I99, 292, conductors 203, I10, resistance I1I, solenoid coil I12, conductors I13 and 81 to the other line wire 89.

'The actuation of relay coil I54 also raises armature 204 into engagement with its corresponding contact 205', closing a circuit from line wire I09 connected to terminal I4 through conductors I11, 206, armature 204, contact 205, conductor 201, terminal 209 to indicator light 2 I 3, the other terminal of which is connected to the common ground Wire II3 connected to terminal I5. Thus wire 82 through II6, contacts 4,115, conductor II1, conductor I24, contact 2I3, armature 2| I, conductor I25,-coil I56, conductors I51 and I59, to line wire 89. A circuit is also closed from line wire 82 through IE6, contacts II4, H5, conductor II1, conductor 2I4, contacts 293, 252, and armature 2II through'conductor 216', resistance I1I, solenoid coil I12, conductor I13 and 81 to line wire 89. I

The magnet I56 also raises armature 2I1 into engagement with its corresponding contact 219, causing a circuit to be closed from line wire I09 connected to terminal I4 through conductor 220, armature 2I1, contact 2I9, conductor 2H, terminal 222 t0 indicate'a line 223, the other ter- 7 minal of which is connected to the common ground wire II3 connected to terminal I5. Thus when the relay coil'l56 is energized, a circuit is H5, conthat the holding solenoid I19 forcibly holdsthe armature 6] from operation during the period the contacts H4, H are closed. It will also be found that after actuation of; the micro relay 3' by-a car passing over the second detector l2l, a'circuit through the solenoid 112 will be closed,; the core 254 ofthis solenoid forcibly maintaining the armature-I34 out of operation so long as the contacts i I l and I [5 are closed.

It will be noted that the lights H2 on the advertising sign are illuminated immediately as soon as a vehicle crossesthejfirst detector, as are also the lightsfl30 illuminating the words You Are Travelling Over, or similar indicia; Within two seconds of the illumination of the lightsof the sign, the speed indicating light 182; 19,5, 2H], 22.3, 238, or 253 will be illuminated, providing an indication ofv the speed of the vehicle; At'the end of, for example, seven and one-half seconds, the speed indicating indicia and'the lights 13!! will be turned oil by the breaking ofthe contacts I [4, H5, but the advertising'indicia will remain illuminated for a longer periodof time. i As soon as the contacts I I4, H5 are broken, theicurrent to the solenoids H9 and I12 is broken, as are the holding circuitstothe various relays. Thus at the endof this seven and one-half second period, the speed indicating apparatus may operate to release the latches 31 and 42 from their corresponding notches, and to permit the speed indicating mechanism to again operate,- 7 It will be noted that unless the vehicle traverses the first'detector prior to the; crossing of the sec ond detector, the timers will not start rotation,

and'therefore the device willnotoperate. In

other words, if during'the seven and one-half second period required for completing the cycle, a second Vehicle should enterthe space between the two detectors, the passageof the vehicle over 171181 5800115}. detector will not'start the indication as the first detector must be;operated in order to start the timerdiscs in motion:' Q 3 1 If it is desired to operate the sign E near'the top' of the hill or at any other dangerous point in theroad only when a vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, this maybe accomplished through theyuse of; the attachment illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings, this construction, the" supply wires 255 and 256 are directly connected by conductors 251 and 259"t0 a timer motor 269,. 'I'his'motor is designed to rotate a disc 26| which is ordinarily restrained from movement by means of a latch or dog 262 engaging in a peripheral notch 263 in the disc 26 I. The latch 262 is drawn out of disc engaging position by means of a coil 264 which is connected by a conductor 265 to one end of the secondary coil 266 of a'transformer 26 1.' The other terminal of the coi1 264 is connected by the conductor 269 to the contact 210'whi'ch is cooperable with the'arm ature 21l of the relay magnet 212. The armature 21l is connected by conductor 213 to the other terminal of the secondarycoil 265 of the transf0rmer261. i

The relay coil'212 is connected by conductor 214 to the contact 215 which is engageable with the'armature 216. This armature is connected by conductor'265 toone terminal of the secondary coil 266. Conductors 211 and 213 connect the other terminal of the coil 212 to the otherterminal of the transformer coil 266';

The detector F isplaced' in the path of vehicles travelling in a direction opposite to the vehicle approaching the sign E, and the passage of a vehicle over the detector F causes a current to flowthrough the detector coil 219 and conductors 280 and 285 to the micro relay coil 282. The micro relay coil 282 is actuated by the flow of currentthrough the coil 282, closing the armature216 and thereby closing the circuit to the relay coil 212. The relay coil 212 actuates the armature 21| into engagement with the contact 219, closing a circuit through the coil 2M, Actuation of the coil 264 releases the latch 262' and permits the motor 266 to rotate the disc 26! through one revolution. The removal of the latch 252 also acts to close contacts 283 and 284. The line Wire 2525 is connected to the contact 234 which closes against the contact 283 to close a ciruit through ondu'ctor285 to the terminal M. The line'wire 256 is directly connected to a terminal I5. Therefore, the circuit to the entire sign from the current supply terminals M and? is broken by the device illustrated in Figure 8, unless a vehicle is approaching the sign from the reverse side of the same;

The attachment illustrated Figure 8 is merelydiagrammatic and discloses one way in which a cir-' cuit breaking device 'could be constructed. In actual, construction," aslightly different form would probably be used in order that vehicles following one another would each actuate the circuit switch to, maintain the circuit closed for a definite timeaiter the passage .of the last vehicle. o.

In accordance with the patentstatutes, I have described the principles of operation and construction of my speed indicator; and while I have endeavored toset forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have in understood that these are only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made within the. scope of the following claims without departing from the spiritof my invention.

I claim:

1. A vehicle speed indicating device for a highway including a speed'indicator mounted adjacent the highway to be viewed by persons'travelling over the highway, a series of electricsignals on; said indicator'each; designating a particular speed, a 'timer includingga series'of timer contacts, means operating said timer continuously through a complete cycle of operation, a first vehicle actuated detector insaid highway operable when actuated to'start said timerto rotate through its complete circuit, a fixed contact engageable with any of said contacts on said timer, a normally open switch in circuit with said fixed contact, an electrical connection from each of said timer contacts to a respective one of said electric signals, each connection including a circuit sustaining means, each said contact on said timer being connectedin circuit with said normally open switch; and said fixed contact through said circuit. sustaining means to one of said speeds indicated "Ionsaid speed indicator, and a ,secon'dvehicle actuated detector operable when actuated to momentarily close said normally open switch to close a circuit to one of said contacts, anelectrical' connection means conmeetin each c'ontact with one ofsaid electric signalsto actuate said signal, a fixed contact consecutively engaging saidtimer-contacts in the operation-of said timer, a circuit to said fixed operating means operable when actuated to move the timer through a cycle of operation wherein all of said timer contacts are consecutively engaged by said fixed contact, vehicle actuating means for actuating said timer operating means to start the same, and a second vehicle actuated means operable when actuated to close said normally open switch to complete a circuit to one of said electric signals.

3. A vehicle speed indicating device for a high- Way including a speed indicator having a series of electric signalseach to denote a particular speed, a timer including a series of consecutive contacts, an electrical connection means connecting each contact with one of said electric si'gnalsto actuate said signal, a fixed contact consecutively engaging said timer contacts in the operation of said timer, a circuit to said fixed contact including a normally open switch, timer operating means operable when actuated to move the timer through a cycle of operation-wherein all of said timer contacts are consecutively engaged by said fixed contact, vehicle actuating means for actuating said timer operating means to start the same, a second vehicle actuated means operable when actuated to close said normally open switch to complete a circuit to oneof said electric signals, and means for prolonging the indication of said electric signal.

4. A vehicle speed indicating device for a'highway including a speed indicator having a series of electric signals each to denote a, particular speed and an indication thatlthe vehicle is travelling faster than the speed indicated, the device comprising a timer including a series of consecutively operable timer contacts thereupon, each timer contact corresponding to one'of said electric signals, a circuit from each said timer contact to said corresponding electric signal, a fixed contact consecutively engaging said timer contacts, a normally open circuit to said fixed contact, means operable when actuated to operate said timer in cycles, vehicle actuated means for actuating said timer operating means, and a second vehicle actuated means operable when actuated to close said normally open circuit to thereby close a circuit through the fixed contact and one of said timer contacts to one of said electric signals to denote a particular speed.

5. A vehicle speed indicating device for a highway including a speed indicator comprising an electric sign and a series of electrical signals each to denote a particular speed, a timer including a series of timer contacts each contact corresponding to one of said electric signals, a conductor connecting each timer contact with its corresponding electric signal, a fixed contact successively engaging said timer contacts'upon actuation of said timer, a circuit to said fixed contact including a normally open switch, said circuit operable when said normally open switch is closed to energize one of said electric signals, timer operating means operable when actuated to move said timer through a complete cycle of operation, a circuit to said sign including a normally open sign switch, a vehicle actuated means operable when actuated to close said normally open sign switch and to actuate said timer operating means, and a second vehicle actuated means operable when actuated to close said normally open switch in the circuit to said fixed contact.

6. A vheicle speed indicating device for a highway including a speed indicator comprising an electric signal indicating that the vehicle is travelling faster than a certain speed and a series of electric signals each indicating a particular speed, a timer including a series of consecutive timer contacts, means electrically connecting each of said timer contacts with a respective one of said speed indicating signals, a normally open circuit to said timer controlling the illumination of said speed signals, a normally open sign switch controlling the circuit to said electric signal indicating that the vehicle is travelling faster than a certain speed, a means for operating said timer to operate the same through a complete cycle of operation, vehicle actuated means for actuating said timer operating means and for closing said sign switch to provide an electric signal on said speed indicator, and a second vehicle actuated means operablewhen actuated to close the normally open circuit to said timer to actuate one of said electric signals to denote a particular speed.

GEORGE E. SYKORA. 

